Eurocom

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy sat in my "to-play" pile for months, probably more than a year if I wanted to be accurate about it. I'm a big fan of third-person adventure games, and after reading Mike's opinion, I thought it was a safe purchase on the cheap. The problem was that I never felt like playing it. The box art is very mediocre and not the sort of eye-catcher that jumps out from the shelf, and with an onslaught of other titles that I had been anticipating or that needed reviews, it never got its turn at bat.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Language, Simulated Gambling, Violence

If reviewing videogames has taught me one thing, it's that I really shouldn't be impressed by a good idea. All too often games start with a great idea, and then run it into the ground with terrible execution. Bet on Soldier: Blood Money is one such game. It takes the relatively exciting idea of brutal murder being structured as sport and televised as mass media entertainment, and does absolutely nothing interesting with it, just like The Killing Game Show, Flashback, and Headhunter before it.

Game Description: Bet On Soldier: Bloodsport takes you into a militarized world, where humans dedicate most of their time and resources to making war. Eighty years into the future, everyone either fights or works somewhere in the war machinery. Fighting isn't just about staying alive anymore, it's about making money. The federations created Bet On Soldier, a TV show where soldiers fight to entertain the masses and generate profits. The champions of this new bloodsport, "The Boryenkas Brothers", have something to do with your fiancee's death. To confront them and learn the truth, you enter the Bet On Soldier tournaments. Fighting your way to the top won't be easy—you can bet your life on it.

Game Description: Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy puts you into the midst of an epic quest to find the ancient crowns of Egypt. You take on the character of Sphinx interacting with hundreds of supernatural monstyers while traveeling across levels spanning the globe. Each region is linked together by magic portals, but in order to reach them, you have to solve puzzles, defeat bosses, and learn new abilities.

No one is ever going to confuse Sphinx with Zelda, but that doesn't mean this quirky little action title is without merit. Sphinx may not succeed in all the areas of game development, but it does more than enough things right to justify spending some time with it. Gamers who enjoy lighthearted action with a pleasant mix of combat, puzzle-solving, and platforming elements will find Sphinx an interesting diversion.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Fantasy Violence

In the summer of 2003, gamers bore witness to a spectacular step backwards for the mainstream acceptance of video games. The one-two punch of the unfinished videogame Tomb Raider: Angel Of Darkness and the unwatchable movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. The awful Angel Of Darkness is a perfect example of a game rushed to release. After three years without a new title, the most visible franchise in gaming was in danger of being forgotten.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Game Description: In the sequel to the path breaking first game, Sunnydale undergoes a temporal shift, causing instability between time and space and as a result brings back to life many old enemies of the slayer. You must take on the role of either the slayer or her friends to stop your town from going to hell..... literally!!! Involvement from the shows creator, sanctioned Buffy and voiceovers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds features intense action in an authentic Buffy universe, an advanced fighting engine allowing over & combinations loads of new and familiar characters and environments, multiplayer action game.